The memory of a childhood toy, a thumb push puppet, spurred me to pursue building a life-sized version. The simple yet immediate and powerful effect my thumb had on the toy’s character (in my case, Pinocchio) kept me entertained for hours. My original intent was for the puppet to represent America’s continued slide into authoritarianism. The sculpture’s puppet character was made apparent by George Floyd’s murder and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests that spread worldwide. The Robert E. Lee puppet, when collapsed, reflected the fate of many of the monuments that had been raised in America in the past 120 years.

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jamesshefik@gmail.com